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The run versus pass debate will never be more germane than with your 2008 49ers.

On one side stands Scot McCloughan and, for the most part, Mike Nolan, who both favor a run-dominated, grind-it-out style of offense designed to control the clock. This misbegotten offensive philosophy failed in the last three seasons including 2006 with Norv Turner as offensive coordinator, a starting quarterback who took every snap, a running back who gained 1,695 yards and an offensive line and a receiving corps that stayed relatively healthy the entire season.

The spread offense sets up well for this fella.

With this offensive group, in this league, at this time – the run-first, control-the-clock approach doesn’t work. When injuries occur, as they did in 2005 and 2007, this offense plummeted to last in the league in several offensive categories.

On the other side is Mike Martz - a creative, hell-bent passing-oriented coach, indoctrinated in the philosophy that passing is always more productive than rushing. Martz wouldn’t relent from that approach even when future Hall of Fame runner Marshall Faulk loomed in his backfield.

If these two philosophies clash, it will pit Martz against Nolan/McCloughan and the divisiveness could encroach into the locker room. In Detroit, quarterbacks and receivers loved Martz; running backs and offensive linemen didn’t.

Even when the 49ers could barely move the ball in 2005 and 2007, a relative peace pervaded the locker room and the coaching staff. A Martz confrontation could disrupt both.

That’s why I say Martz could be a disaster.

However if the Nolan-McCloughan and the Martz philosophies meld and the offense stays healthy like it did in ’06, the team could potentially leap from 32nd in offense into the teens.

Much of this will depend on what happens early in the season and that’s why this year’s schedule will be crucial for the 49ers. If they get defensively-weak teams early, a kick-ass offense could take hold and a daisy-dropping harmony will ensue.

One more point – the NFL is trending towards the pass-happy. The Patriots, Colts and Packers ran a pass-oriented, spread scheme last year and all three reached the playoffs with two making it to the title games and one going to the Supe.

One post yesterday discounted the spread, saying the three best quarterbacks in the league captained those offenses. A truce statement to be sure, but might it be that it was the spread that catapulted those quarterbacks to success and heady statistics?

Consider that in 2006, Brett Favre was widely considered done after he threw 10 touchdowns, 17 interceptions and compiled a 72.7 passer rating that was lower than Alex Smith’s 74.8.

Without a running game for most of the season, Green Bay instituted the spread and Favre threw 28 touchdowns, 15 picks and his rating soared to 95.7.

The Patriots went almost exclusively with a spread last year and quarterback Tom Brady enjoyed the best statistical regular season of any quarterback in NFL history: 50 tds, 8 interceptions and a record-shattering 117.2 rating.

The Colts have always run the spread with Peyton Manning. The Colts dominated the league in offense at times and Manning will go to the Hall.

The spread is not a panacea, it must be meshed with good pass protection, a decent defense and no NFL team can function without a running game.

However NFL defenses are behind in stopping the spread – not enough cornerbacks, or linebackers and safeties that can cover.

On top of all of this, the 49ers have a quarterback in Alex Smith who ran the spread with tremendous success in college. That’s why I say the Martz hire could be brilliant.